In this three part series we'll discuss how to negotiate an exchange of goods, where to collect supplies, and provide a comprehensive analysis of SHTF commodities. 

In Part 1 we'll introduce the skillset and start with bartering basics. 

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Over all three parts (to be released in Summer and Fall of 2025) we'll provide information on how to utilize the art of negotiation and trade to facilitate an exchange of goods between persons and groups. The emphasis is placed on bartering for supplies during a state of civil unrest, systematic breakdown of transportation of goods, shortages, and post-apocalyptic conditions. Tips will provide insight on what items should be valued and targeted during a trade and which items are expendable. 

The guide will further discuss the opportunities scavenging presents by providing examples of locations to raid, how to transport goods obtained, and where to find value in unexpected areas.

Finally, we will summarize an array of supply collection methods and provide a list of High Value Items (HVI) along with a list of perceived HVI that should be traded immediately. 

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): 

1. Assess Supplies and Sustainment Capabilities. 

2. Scout Potential Resources and Trade Opportunities. 

3. Formulate plan of action to meet other Groups for Bartering or raid Abandoned location for Scavenging of Items.

4. Analyze Security Concerns such as Site Selection, Overwatch, Risk vs Rewards, etc.

5. Discuss outlying options such as marauding, standard purchase, indenturement, foraging, etc.

6. Review/utilize included checklist of High Value Items (HVI) and take note of our classification of standards for both non-essential and sustainment HVIs.

 

DEFINITIONS

BARTERING - The act of trading goods and services at a negotiated rate in a cashless economic system. 

SCAVENGING - The searching and retrieval of equipment, supplies, or other goods from abandoned property, discarded waste, and/or other location where there is no apparent ownership or rights to said goods.

BARTERING

Bartering is the primary means of resupplying and attaining necessary provisions when the stores are closed. It’s the most civil option in a time of potential civil unrest. This can be as simple as haggling with the clerk at a gas station following an extensive power outage. You may offer him your toolbox and some ammo you had in your truck in exchange for 10 gallons of gas. This type of trade may benefit you both. Keep in mind, bartering, in the sense we are covering, is the act of trading goods (or services) in a cashless economic system. Maybe credit card machines are down or maybe standard currency has been devalued. Whatever the case, plan now for an alternative source of bartering goods.

Following a Life Altering Event (LAE), bartering will be key. The LAE may cause a societal collapse, mass distribution failure, or breakdown of conventional financial mechanisms. If you focus on High Value Items (HVIs), such as those for Sustainment (S-HVI) of long term survival, you’ll end up on top.

It's a simple process to approach a business owner or the guy who runs the local mechanic shop. If you want something just ask them the price and/or what they'll trade. The drawback is that these types of resources will be depleted quickly if distribution systems have failed.  The focus of our bartering guides is to explain the process of bartering with groups, families, and individuals.

Quick Tips: A Bartering Guideline

• Assess your possessions and their value. Understand the newfound value of ordinary items such as toilet paper, honey, gasoline, etc. Then determine what items are not necessary for survival or sustainment. That's what you'll want to trade.

• Determine your supply gaps. What do you need? How easy is it to scavenge or manufacture? If the difficulty in resourcing the gaps outweighs the ease in trading for it, then it's time to barter.

• Communicate with other groups, passerbys, via radio, or any other method of learning about trade opportunities. This could be the locally printed classified section or a community message board. Check businesses that are still open and see what they are accepting in exchange for purchasing their products/services.  Learn who may have the supplies you need.

• Do research, scout out the potential party you may want to barter with. Learn their susceptibilities, weaknesses. Make contact with potential persons/groups that have the items you need. Schedule a meetup in a public and safe area. Don't meet at your bugout location or theirs.

• Set rules of engagement and expectations for the meetup. Such as meeting one-on-one with other members holding back 500 ft, or having a 3rd party present, or agreeing to trade guidelines in advance.

• Goal should be to trade items you don't need for items you do need. For example, if you know how to make hand soap but lack ammo; then it would be wise to offer bars of soap for ammunition. The idea is to look for long term solutions, not immediate relief. Use other's weaknesses and lack of preparedness to your advantage. Trade cigarettes, chocolate, and/or batteries for duct tape, sugar, and/or candles.

• Don't be afraid to walk away from a deal that doesn't benefit you. Be diplomatic in each trade encounter. Discussions should be strategic. Don't burn bridges as you may have to deal with them again. Don't insult. Be respectful. Don't reveal all your cards. Use deadlines or scarcity to pressure the deal. Bluff or lie with caution as they may have gained knowledge on you prior to the meet. If you are caught in a lie, repercussions will come.

• Make the deal, allow for review of the items traded to assure quantity and quality so there are no false claims after the fact. Build rapport, set up a means of communications for future trade opportunities.

• Remember, just because you don’t have any tangible items to deal with doesn’t mean you can’t trade. Your tradecraft or skills are by far the most important asset you have to bargain with. Skills such as knowing how to preserve food, craft tools, make soap, repair a vehicle, sew up a torn jacket, or program a Ham radio are vital abilities that can be offered up in exchange for other goods or services. 

ASSESSING POTENTIAL BARTERING OPPORTUNITIES


Whether in a dire situation, or just in everyday life, it’s a good practice to be watchful for opportunities to acquire goods that can be bartered, even if these goods are not of use to you. For example, you may not smoke or dip, but if your neighbor does and has extra fuel or medical supplies that you need, he might be willing to trade them for smokes or snuff that he’s out of or low on. If you encounter a good deal on a useful commodity, assess whether or not it’s practical to keep on hand to barter with. We tend to put blinders on with regard to items we don’t personally use, forgetting that they can be a means to acquire resources we want or need.

• “One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure.” A valuable product/item you don’t need or want may be a stepping stone or tool to get what you do need or want. 

• Have a separate storage area at your home or BOL (bugout location) for barter goods. This way your personal supplies won’t get inadvertently traded off.

 

SITE SELECTION & SECURITY

Your site selection criteria is based upon the potential threat of the group/persons you are bartering with and the value of the items being exchanged. If you are trading amongst friendly groups you may consider bartering at their locale. If you are trading amongst a potentially dangerous group then you should obtain a defensive posture in a tactically sound location or neutral locale. Regardless of the venue, you should never sacrifice your security for the value of the item. Barter missions should have a minimum of three persons. Ensure that the one doing the bartering is not the one holding security. If possible, you must keep someone with complete situational awareness. Your security can have coordinated code words if they feel the situation is degrading. You and your group can leave before conditions escalate to something more dangerous.

• Scouts should perform reconnaissance in advance of the meet to map out location

• Identify entry and egress points including scouting perimeter for vulnerabilities or additional escape routes

• Designate overwatch points

• Gain intelligence on security teams & protocols

• Look for and avoid potential ‘fatal funnel’ areas where you may become trapped with little or no cover/concealment

• If a location is deemed unsafe or something doesn't seem right; cancel or request an alternative location.

• Security 

• When it comes time for the meeting, scouts follow in negotiation team and act as inner security

• Overwatch team assumes predetermined points

• Maintain contact at all times using radio or line of sight (non-verbal comms).

• If providing overwatch, do so from concealment or if not feasible utilize ‘Gray Man’ tactics and blend in with others.

• Security hazards require extreme situational awareness, don't get caught up in the conversation if you are security.

NEGOTIATION & TRANSACTION

The idea of bartering is to acquire valuable supplies while maintaining a solid relationship with the other party. Building rapport can not be overstated. Remember, you potentially need the other group as much as they need you, so a good first impression goes a long way. The way you negotiate may start a long-lasting partnership between individuals or groups. 

With any negotiation, leverage is key. They may have vulnerabilities which you can help with. If they are lacking an essential item for life like food and water, you might be their lifeline. This leverage can go a long way.  But, remember this is a two-way street, that same leverage can be used against you if you’re not careful.  Bartering is a skill that takes time to develop and hone. A good trade that you hope to result in an ongoing future of trades should be beneficial for both parties.  Ideally, both parties will feel like the deal was fair and an equal exchange has occurred.

• Build Rapport

• Get to know the other party

• Find common ground for a potential partnership

• Understand their true motivations and vulnerabilities 

• Determine how desperate they are for items to use as leverage

• Maintain your integrity. Your word is your bond!

• Item Transaction

• Ensure the item you are trading is of value

• Ensure the item you are given is actually the item you need and that it works

• Be clear and concise about the transaction. Ambiguity will kill the deal.

SUMMARY

In short, here’s what you need to remember.

• Recon and research potential groups and person who may have items you need

• Make contact and set agreed upon terms

• Location, Security Consideration, Trading Guidelines

• Trade NE-HVIs for Standard HVIs. Trade Standard HVIs for S-HVIs.

Get this entire guide now, download the Bartering and Scavenging Guide for SHTF. Part 2 coming soon.